Apply now: PhD in Agrobiodiversity

Applications are now being accepted for the International PhD Programme in Agrobiodiversity, run by the Institute of Life Sciences at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa, in Italy.

Run in collaboration with the Italian National Academy of Sciences and funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, the three-year PhD programme aims to enhance human resource capacities in the use and management of genetic variation in agricultural and natural systems, to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems and the conservation of genetic resources for the well-being of present and future generations.

The course has two curricula:

Plant Genetic Resources

Functional Biodiversity in Agroecosystems

Examples of research areas tackled by the PhD programme include:

Genetic variation in single genes and entire genomes of agricultural and forestry plants and their wild relatives

Mechanisms that control the variability in genes and/or groups of genes, as those involved in resistance to pathogens and/or pests and tolerance to environmental factors

Role of functional biodiversity in maintaining genetic diversity, including evolution and co-evolution of pests/pathogens and host plants

Role of functional diversity, including interactions between pests/ pathogens/weeds and domesticated/volunteer/wild plants, in agroecosystem health

Application of agrobiodiversity solutions at genetic, species and habitat level to improve crop performance, crop protection, sustainable crop/agroforestry management and multifunctional land use

Six scholarships are available to motivated students from any country and, the organisers say, applications from developing/in transition countries are particularly welcome. Note: the closing date for applications is May 31, 2016
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